Ore-amalgamator.



J. E. DICK.

ORE AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION man OCT-21 Patented J an. 25, 1916.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 90., WASHINGTON, 1). C4

, JAMES'E. DICK, 0F AKRO1\T,.OHIO.

ORE-AMALGAMATOR;

,Spfipi fication of Letters Patent. patenf gd Jan; 25 1916,

Application filed. October 21, 1914; I Serial No. 867,919.

To allwhom it may concern. u I

Be it known that I, J AMiis E. DICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore-Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for amalgamating ores, and has for its obj ectto' provide certain improvements in the construction of the same, whereby the gold bearing ore in the form of a pulp will be exposed to the amalgamating action of the mercury bath in a most thorough and efiicient manner, and whereby the mercury bath will be protected most effectually from deterioration.

In the accompanying drawing :-Figure 1 is a Vertical sectional view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detail inverted plan view of the spreading disk or plate. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a slight modification.

In the said drawing, referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 1 denotes a chamber, preferably of substantial oval shape, the same being apertured at the top and bottom, the top aperture 2 being for the purposes of permitting the discharge of the gangue, while the bottom aperture 3 is normally closed by any suitable closure 4:. Said chamber is also apertured in one side near its top at 5 to receive a supply pipe 6, the same passing through any suitable plug 7 disposed in said aperture and extending downwardly and centrally into said chamber and terminating near its bottom. -Upon the lower end of said pipe is mounted a spreading disk 8, the same being slightly dished upwardly, and preferably slightly corrugated or fluted at its outer edge at 9.

In operation, the ore in a finely divided or pulverized state and mixed with water is forced into the pipe 6, from which it discharges at the lower end of the same into a bath of mercury 10 charged into said chamber 1, and passing annularly beneath the spreading disk 8 rises from the edge of the same through the bath of mercury where the gold will be amalgamated and the gangue pass to the upper surface of the mercury bath. As the chamber lfills, the gangue and water will discharge at the top 2 in proportion to the supply afforded through the pipe 6. It will be seen that the pulp-when discharged fromthe pipeG will spread annularly beneath the disk 8, and

because of the dished shape of the latter, wlll seek the outer edge of the same, the greater specific gravlty of mercury causing the pulp to rise to the surface when it passes from the outer edge of the said disk. F urthermore, 1n its passage radially beneath the disk 8, the pulp will be spread in a thin film,

and by'reason of the corrugated edge of the said disk any discharge of the pulp past the edge of the same in large bubbles will be prevented. By thus causing the pulp to dis charge from beneath the disk in small quantites, the amalgamating action of the mercury on the values will be more effectual.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a slight modification, the device therein shown being adapted to operate by gravity alone, the height of the chamber 11 being sufficient to cause the pulp in the pipe 12 to force its way through the mercury by hydrostatic pressure and discharge from the bottom of said pipe beneath the disk 13, which is similar in construction to the disk 8 of the Fig. 1 construction. In this construction also I provide an annular bafHe plate 14 disposed above the outer edge of the disk 13 to break the force of any bubbles which may arise, and to diminish the ebullition of the mercury bath 15 due to said bubbles. I also provide a side discharge for the gangue at 16, which is disposed sufficiently above the upper level of the mercury bath 15 to maintain a body of fluid 17 over the surface of the mercury bath 15. While I contemplate using this form of apparatus to operate by hydrostatic pressure, still I may dispense with the receiving pan 18 at the top of the device, and attach a supply pipe to the upper screwthreaded end ofthe pipe 12, through which the pulp may be supplied under any desired pressure. By employing my improved con struction I provide effective means for the exclusion of air from the mercury bath by providing a body of fluid such as water upon said bath, thus preventing loss of mercury or amalgam due to surface tension or the adhesion of air bubbles to particles of mercury, amalgam or-gold. Furthermore, by employing the spreading disk as shown, the exposure of the pulp to the action of the mercury in its passage therethrough is greatly increased, thus giving a better and longer contact between the mercury and pulp. o And the spreading of the pulp into a thin film by the use of said plate also gives a better contact between the mercury and values in the pulp, thereby aiding in the amalgamation. The said disk also provides for the discharge of the pulp from the edge thereof in annular form, whereby said discharge-Will be in the form of many small bubbles rather than in the form of a few large ones, Which necessarily results in a better amalgamating contact, and will permit 0f the use of a thinner layer of mercury aswellas less pressure applied to the pulp.

It has been found; in practice that the sickening and-oxidizing of the mercury bath are partly due to surface exposure of the mercury, and that the condition only exists at the surface and by discharging the pulp beneath the surface of the same and by providing upon the surface of the mercury bath a protecting body of water, both of these neath the surface of the mercury body, and i an annular upwardly dished deflector fixed to the lower end of said pipe having, a smooth under surface merging into a corrugated edge.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. DICK.

Witnesses:

J. L. TOWNE, DONALD DYRENFORTI-I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,169,740, granted January 25, 1916, upon the application of James E. Dick, of Alrron, Ohio, for an improvement in Ore-Amalgamators, were erroneously issued to the inventor, said Dick, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to the inventor and Charles Dick, as assignee of one-half interest in said invention, as shown by the records of assignments in this ofiioe; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of February, A. D., 1916.

R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL] 

